Moonlight Sanctuary

Chapter # 6

I wake to the sound of howling.

For a moment, I'm disoriented, my heart pounding with fear. Then I realize it's not a threat, it's the pack's morning call, wolves greeting the dawn. In Blackwater, the morning howl was aggressive, competitive, each wolf trying to prove their dominance. Here, it's harmonious, almost musical.

I get up and shower, then dress in the clothes Luna brought me yesterday. There's a knock on my door just as I'm finishing, and I open it to find a young girl, maybe thirteen, holding a tray.

"Good morning!" she says brightly. "I'm Sophie. Duke asked me to bring you breakfast."

"Oh, thank you." I take the tray, surprised. "You didn't have to do that."

Sophie grins. "I wanted to. Everyone's talking about you, the wolf who stood up to her mate and ran away. That's really brave."

I don't feel brave. I feel like a coward who ran instead of fighting. But Sophie's admiration is genuine, so I just smile. "Thank you, Sophie."

After she leaves, I eat quickly, my stomach fluttering with nervous anticipation. Duke is taking me on a tour of the territory today. Just the two of us. It shouldn't feel significant, but it does.

He arrives exactly when he said he would, dressed casually in jeans and a flannel shirt. He looks more relaxed than yesterday, and I wonder if he slept better.

"Ready?" he asks.

"I think so."

We head out, walking through the compound and into the forest beyond. The morning is beautiful, sunlight filtering through the trees, birds singing. Duke sets an easy pace, pointing out landmarks and explaining the territory boundaries.

"Silvermoon controls about fifty square miles," he explains. "We border three other packs. Nightshade to the east, Riverside to the west, and Moonstone to the north. We have good relationships with all of them, regular trade and cooperation."

"That's unusual," I comment. "Most packs are territorial, competitive."

"Most packs are stuck in the past," Duke counters. "I believe in cooperation over competition. We're stronger together than apart."

We walk for over an hour, and Duke shows me everything, the training grounds, the hunting territories, the sacred grove where pack ceremonies are held. He's patient with my questions, never making me feel stupid for not knowing things.

"Can I ask you something personal?" I venture as we rest beside a stream.

"Of course."

"Luna said you lost your parents when you were sixteen. That you became Alpha really young. Was it hard?"

Duke's expression grows distant. "It was the hardest thing I've ever done. I was barely more than a pup myself, and suddenly I was responsible for an entire pack. A lot of the older wolves didn't think I could handle it. They wanted to challenge me, take over."

"But you held on."

"Barely. The first year was brutal. I made mistakes, lots of them. But I had good advisors, Marcus, Helen, a few others who believed in me. They helped me learn, helped me grow into the role." He picks up a stone and tosses it into the stream. "And I decided early on that I wasn't going to lead through fear. I'd seen what that did to packs. I wanted something different."

"Your parents… were they good Alphas?"

"My father was traditional, but not cruel. He believed in the old ways, but he also believed in taking care of the pack. My mother balanced him out, pushed him to be more progressive." Duke's voice softens. "They loved each other deeply. Their mate bond was everything a bond should be, partnership, respect, genuine affection. That's what I grew up seeing, and that's what I want for every mated pair in my pack."

The contrast to my own experience is stark. "I never saw that growing up. In Blackwater, mate bonds were just about power and possession."

"I'm sorry you experienced that. No one should grow up thinking that's normal." Duke turns to look at me. "But you got out. You recognized it was wrong, and you had the courage to leave. That takes incredible strength, Willow."

"I don't feel strong. I feel broken."

"Broken things can be mended. And sometimes they're stronger for having been broken." He stands, offering me his hand. "Come on, there's one more place I want to show you."

I take his hand, and the contact sends a jolt through me. His hand is warm, calloused from work, and it engulfs mine completely. He helps me up, and for a moment we're standing very close, close enough that I can see the flecks of gold in his brown eyes.

Then he releases my hand and steps back, and I can breathe again.

We continue walking, going deeper into the forest. The trees here are ancient, their trunks so wide it would take several people to encircle them. The air feels different, charged with something I can't quite name.

"This is the heart of Silvermoon territory," Duke explains. "The oldest part of the forest. My ancestors have been here for generations."

We emerge into a clearing, and I gasp. In the center stands a massive oak tree, its branches spreading like a canopy overhead. Around its base are stones arranged in a circle, and I can feel the power emanating from this place.

"This is where we hold our most important ceremonies," Duke says quietly. "Matings, Alpha challenges, coming of age rituals. This tree has witnessed centuries of pack history."

I walk closer, drawn by something I don't understand. When I place my hand on the bark, I feel a pulse of energy, ancient and knowing.

"The elders say the tree is blessed by the Moon Goddess herself," Duke continues. "That she watches over this place, over our pack."

"Do you believe that?" I ask.

"I believe there are things in this world we don't fully understand. Powers older than us, forces that guide our kind." He moves to stand beside me. "And I believe that sometimes, when we need it most, the Goddess intervenes."

There's something in his tone that makes me look at him. He's staring at the tree, but his expression is troubled.

"Duke? What's wrong?"

He's quiet for a long moment. Then: "When you arrived, when I first saw you... I felt something. Something I haven't felt before."

My heart starts to race. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know. Maybe nothing. Maybe I'm imagining it." He turns to face me fully. "But Willow, I need you to know something. Whatever happens, whatever you decide about your future, I'm here. Not because I have to be, not because of pack duty, but because I want to be."

The intensity in his gaze makes my breath catch. This feels like more than an Alpha protecting a pack member. This feels personal.

"I'm still bonded to Asher," I whisper. "I can feel him, even now. The bond.."

"I know. And I'm not asking for anything. I just needed you to know." Duke steps back, breaking the moment. "We should head back. I have a meeting with the Council representatives this afternoon about your situation."

We walk back in silence, but it's not uncomfortable. If anything, I feel more settled than I have since arriving. Duke's confession…if that's what it was, should have scared me. Instead, it feels like a promise. Like hope.

When we reach the compound, Marcus is waiting, his expression grim.

"Duke, we have a problem. Asher's father contacted the Council. He's claiming you kidnapped Willow, that you're holding her against her will."

My blood runs cold. "That's not true!"

"We know that," Marcus assures me. "But Alpha Marcus of Blackwater is influential. He has allies on the Council. They're demanding a hearing."

Duke's jaw tightens. "When?"

"Three days. They're sending representatives here to interview Willow, assess the situation."

"Good. Let them come. They'll see the truth." Duke looks at me. "Willow, you'll have to testify. Tell them everything about Asher, about the abuse. Can you do that?"

The thought of reliving it all, of speaking about my shame in front of strangers, makes me want to vomit. But I nod. "If it means staying here, yes."

"You won't be alone," Duke promises. "I'll be there. The whole pack will support you."

Over the next three days, I prepare for the hearing. Duke assigns me a pack lawyer, a sharp eyed female named Victoria who helps me organize my testimony. Dr. Sarah documents all my injuries, taking photos and detailed notes. Pack members come forward offering to testify about my condition when I arrived, about Asher's threatening behavior at the border.

The support is overwhelming. These wolves barely know me, yet they're willing to stand up for me, to risk conflict with another pack on my behalf.

Luna helps me pick out clothes for the hearing, something professional but not too formal. "You want to look strong but not aggressive," she advises. "Show them you're a victim who became a survivor."

The night before the hearing, I can't sleep. I pace my room, the mate bond pulling at me. Asher is close again. I can feel him. He must have come back for the hearing.

There's a soft knock on my door around midnight. I open it to find Duke standing there, looking as exhausted as I feel.

"I saw your light on," he says. "Couldn't sleep either?"

"Too nervous."

"Can I come in? Just to talk?"

I hesitate, then step aside. Duke enters, and suddenly my room feels much smaller. He sits in the chair by the window, and I perch on the edge of the bed.

"You're going to do great tomorrow," he says. "Just tell the truth. That's all you need to do."

"What if they don't believe me? What if they side with Asher?"

"Then we'll appeal. We'll fight it. Willow, I meant what I said, I'm not letting him take you. Not without a fight."

"Why?" The question bursts out of me. "Why are you doing all this? You barely know me. I'm just some broken wolf who showed up on your territory.."

"You're not broken," Duke interrupts fiercely. "You're wounded, yes. You've been through trauma. But you're not broken, Willow. You're one of the strongest wolves I've ever met."

"I don't feel strong."

"Strength isn't about never being hurt. It's about getting back up after you've been knocked down. It's about running when you need to run, fighting when you need to fight, and asking for help when you need help." He leans forward. "You did all of that. You survived six months of abuse, recognized you deserved better, and had the courage to escape. That's strength."

Tears stream down my face, and I don't try to stop them. "I'm so scared. Of tomorrow, of Asher, of what happens if I have to go back.."

"You're not going back." Duke moves to sit beside me on the bed, and before I can think better of it, I lean into him. He wraps his arms around me, and I cry into his chest, releasing months of pent up fear and pain.

He doesn't try to shush me or tell me it'll be okay. He just holds me, one hand stroking my hair, letting me break down in the safety of his presence.

When I finally calm down, I realize how inappropriate this is. I pull back, wiping my eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have.."

"Don't apologize. Not for this. Not ever." Duke's voice is rough with emotion. "Willow, I need to tell you something. Something I've been trying to deny, but I can't anymore."

My heart pounds. "What?"

"When you arrived, when I first saw you, I felt the pull. The mate bond." He says it quietly, like a confession. "You're my second chance mate."

The world stops. I stare at him, unable to process the words. "That's not possible. I'm bonded to Asher.."

"You're bonded to him, yes. But the Moon Goddess can grant second chance mates in cases of abuse, when the first bond is toxic. It's rare, but it happens." Duke's eyes search mine. "I felt it immediately, but I didn't want to tell you. You've been through so much, and the last thing you needed was pressure from me. But with the hearing tomorrow, with everything that's happening, I needed you to know. Whatever the Council decides, whatever happens, you have a choice. You can accept this bond, or you can reject it. Either way, I'll still protect you. I'll still fight for you."

I can't breathe. A second chance mate. With Duke. The kindest, most selfless wolf I've ever met. It seems impossible, too good to be true.

"I don't know what to say," I whisper.

"You don't have to say anything. Not now. Just... think about it. And know that whatever you decide, I respect it." Duke stands. "I should let you rest. Tomorrow's going to be difficult."

He's at the door when I find my voice. "Duke?"

He turns back.

"Thank you. For telling me. For everything."

He smiles, and it's soft and sad and full of hope all at once. "Get some sleep, Willow. Tomorrow, we fight for your freedom."

After he leaves, I lie in bed, my mind reeling. A second chance mate. With Duke. The bond is there now that he's named it, I can feel it, a golden thread connecting us, so different from the barbed wire of my bond with Asher.

But accepting it would mean fully rejecting Asher, breaking our bond completely. It would mean war, almost certainly. It would mean putting Duke and his entire pack at risk.

Can I do that? Can I be that selfish?

I don't know. But as I finally drift off to sleep, it's Duke's face I see, Duke's arms I remember around me, Duke's promise that echoes in my mind.

*Whatever happens, I'll fight for you.*